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It’s worth remembering Lyndon Johnson’s admonition: It’s better to have people inside the tent than outside the tent. (Or words to that effect.)

At any national convention, the littlest flap or slight will get blown out of proportion by reporters looking for any scrap of news. So, it’s best for Romney’s handlers to give these folks some sort of role, lest they make a “newsworthy” snit. His old foes and critics all have followings. It’s a close November race. Many in the GOP base are lukewarm about Romney and need some stoking. The Sarah Palins, Ron Pauls and Donald Trumps can help do that with their followers.

Even if these folks get a little off message at the podium, it will cause far less damage to Romney than a bunch of TV cameras and bloggers out on the street covering protests by activists about how they or their leader were marginalized and locked out.

Rick Santorum is a special case. He ran a better race than expected, has lots of supporters and has earned the right to a decent speaking slot at the convention. It’s also true he needs to start being a good loser and begin breaking his back for Romney.

Santorum needs to do that for himself. He’s young enough that he can run for president again in four or eight years so he needs to show some class at this convention and be seen by establishment Republican leaders as helping rather than hindering the 2012 nominee.

The same is true for the others. Whatever influence they have in the party or in moving the nation’s political debate will be enhanced by “good soldier” performances in Tampa. It doesn’t help their book sales or credibility in the political community or with their movements if they come off as kooky or sore losers.

It’s good to worry about undecided voters in all this but, come on. Undecided voters aren’t exactly folks who will be riveted to the micro-flaps that go on at national conventions.

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